European Commission rebuts Dijsselbloem on growth

29/11/2016

EC assessments 'fully within scope of mandate'

Brussels, November 29 - The European Commission is
fully within the scope of its mandate in expressing itself in
favor of growth-oriented policies for "the eurozone as a whole"
and in opining on single country budgets as per the so-called
Two-Pack regulations, an EC spokesperson told ANSA Tuesday.
The EC's proposal for more growth-oriented fiscal policies
and its budget recommendations for single eurozone countries
make up a "package that fully takes into account EU Stability
and Growth Pact requirements as well as wider concerns on budget
sustainability, and signals the need to sustain recovery at this
time," the spokesperson said.
The comments came after Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem
criticized the EC's recommendations.
"This is not a unilateral initiative by the Commission,
because the Two-Pack contains specific measures for such an
assessment of the eurozone as a whole," the spokesperson
continued.
"This legislation was introduced - in accordance with the
European Council and the European Parliament - to reinforce the
Stability and Growth Pact in light of the (economic) crisis".
The two regulations (also known as the Two-Pack) as of May
2013 introduced additional coordination and surveillance of
budgetary processes for all eurozone members.
"On November 16, the Commission expressed its point of view
on what should be the fiscal position of the eurozone overall,
at the same time as it issued its opinions on the draft budgets
of eurozone member States," the spokesperson continued.
The EC will "fulfill its responsibilities under the law," the
spokesperson said.